Specifications

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ENGLISH

VOLUME

STOP •

ABCDEFGH

EVALUATE

LEVEL PLAY

DISPLAY

MOVE

VOICE

COACH

TAKE

BACK

NON

AUTO

SMART

HINT

SAY

AGAIN

CHECK DRAW MATE

• GO

NEW GAME

A PORTABLE

CHESS COACH

THAT TALKS —

what a great way to

learn about chess!

KEYS AND FEATURES AT A GLANCE

1. PROTECTIVE COVER: Detachable, hinged lid keeps dust

out and keeps pieces in place during travel.

2. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses four

“AA” (Type AM3/R6) alkaline batteries.

3. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains a sensor

that registers piece movement.

4. GAME KEYS

• NEW GAME: Press to reset for a new game of chess.

• LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode, when pressed to-

gether with a piece symbol key, to access the Teach

Modes.

• NON AUTO: Press to enter Non Auto Mode, which allows

moves to be entered manually.

• VOICE COACH: Press to select Voice Coach Level

options.

• EVALUATE: Press

while the computer is thinking

to get

the computer’s evaluation of the current board position.

• TAKE BACK: Press to take back the last individual move.

Take back up to six individual moves (three per side).

• SAY AGAIN/DISPLAY MOVE: Press when it’s your turn to

have the last voice output repeated. Press and hold down

while the computer is thinking

to display the move it is

considering.

• SMART HINT: Press to get a level-independent move

suggestion.

• PLAY: Press to change sides with the computer; press

while the computer is thinking to force it to move. Press at

the beginning of a new game to play Black from the

bottom of the board.

• PIECE SYMBOL KEYS: Used for piece verification and

pawn promotion; also used to select Teach Modes.

• VOLUME SLIDER: Used to turn the volume up and down.

• GO/STOP: Used to turn the computer on and off. Current

position is retained in memory even when turned off.

5. ACL (Reset): In base of unit. Used to eliminate static

discharge after inserting new batteries.

6. BOARD LIGHTS: Used to show moves and game information, verify

pieces, indicate the side to move, and show the playing levels. Also used

to indicate check, mate, and draw, and to give you insight into the

computer’s thought process.

7. PIECE STORAGE AREA: For storage of captured pieces.

Summary of content (14 pages)

PAGE 1
. PROTECTIVE COVER: Detachable, hinged lid keeps dust out and keeps pieces in place during travel. 2. BATTERY COMPARTMENT: In base of unit. Uses four “AA” (Type AM3/R6) alkaline batteries. 3. SENSORY CHESSBOARD: Each square contains a sensor that registers piece movement. 4. GAME KEYS • NEW GAME: Press to reset for a new game of chess. • LEVEL: Press to enter Level Mode, when pressed together with a piece symbol key, to access the Teach Modes.
PAGE 2
suggest a visit to your local library, where you are sure to find a wealth of interesting chess books! TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. GETTING STARTED: THE BASICS 1.1 First, Install the Batteries 1.2 Ready to Play? Here’s How! 1.3 The Computer Makes Its Move 1.4 Change Your Mind? Take Back! 1.5 Game Over? Start a New Game 1.6 Too Easy/Hard? Change Levels! 1.7 Voice On/Off? It’s Your Choice! 2. ADDITIONAL FEATURES 2.1 Indication of the Side to Move 2.2 Captures and Special Moves 2.
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ever, if you would rather not have the voice on, you have other options! As noted in Section 4.1, you can choose to hear only beeps, or even turn the sound off for completely silent operation, if desired. By the way, if you don’t hear what the computer says, simply press SAY AGAIN on your turn to have the last message repeated. Note the following exceptions: If you press SAY AGAIN in Verify Mode or when the computer is displaying a hint on your turn, the computer will simply return to normal playing mode.
PAGE 4
Finally, press down on the to square. You will hear Pawn now [piece]. Remember to change your piece on the board or make a distinguishing mark on the pawn. • When the computer promotes a pawn, it first indicates its move as usual. As soon as you press its from and to squares, it will announce Pawn now Queen if it is promoting to a Queen. When the computer underpromotes, first press its from and to squares as usual.
PAGE 5
WATCH THE COMPUTER THINK! • Press EVALUATE while the computer is thinking to see which side is ahead! • Press and hold down DISPLAY MOVE while the computer is thinking to see the move it’s currently thinking about! For more details, see Section 2.8. See “WATCH THE COMPUTER THINK!” for a quick reminder of which keys activate these special features! Position Evaluation: To get the computer’s evaluation of your position, press EVALUATE while the computer is thinking.
PAGE 6
one of your pieces when it is your turn to move identifies that piece (e.g., Queen). If the piece you have pressed is not the piece you are currently intending to move, simply press that piece again to turn its board lights off; then make another move of your choice. Pressing down on any one of your opponent’s pieces also identifies that piece, along with its color (e.g., Black Bishop – Illegal move). TRY BLACK FROM THE BOTTOM! If you play Black from the bottom as described in Section 2.
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HERE’S HOW TO SET A LEVEL! Let's say you want to set the easiest Fun Level. Just follow the steps below: 1. Press LEVEL. Next, look at the Chart of Playing Levels and find the Fun Levels. You’ll see that Fun Level 1 is on Square B1. 3.
PAGE 8
The Beginner Levels are meant specifically for novice players. Here, the computer restricts its search so that it deliberately plays weaker and gives the beginning player a chance to beat the computer! actually give away material—here, it plays more like a beginner who has learned the basics of the game. On this level, the computer makes mistakes such as bringing out its Queen too early, leaving its pieces unguarded, and opening itself up to threats of check or checkmate.
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8 A B C D E F G H Beginner Level 8 Mate Finder Level Practice Level 8 Tactical Level 8 Fixed Depth Level 8 Aggressive Game Level 8 Normal Play Level 8 3 min/move Search depth 8 ply Quiet Closed Game Level 8 3 min/move 3 min/move 3 min/move Quiet Closed Game Level 7 Aggressive Game Level 7 Normal Play Level 7 2 min/move 2 min/move 2 min/move Quiet Closed Game Level 6 Aggressive Game Level 6 Normal Play Level 6 1 min/move 1 min/move 1 min/move Quiet Closed Game Level 5 Agg
PAGE 10
3.6 Practice Levels PRACTICE LEVELS Square E5 ................................. 5 ply Square E6 ................................. 6 ply Square E7 ................................. 7 ply Square E8 ................................. 8 ply On the Fixed Depth Levels, the computer’s search depth is limited to a certain number of ply. A ply is an individual move, or a move for either side. As an example, on Level E1, the computer only searches to a depth of one ply—it only looks ahead one individual move.
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VOICE AND COACHING OPTIONS Press VOICE COACH repeatedly to select your Voice Coach Level options, as shown below. 3.11 Normal Playing Levels NORMAL PLAYING LEVELS AVERAGE TIME PER MOVE Level E: Voice ON, Coach ON Square H1 ............................ 1 second Square H2 ............................ 2 seconds Square H3 ............................ 5 seconds Square H4 .......................... 10 seconds Square H5 .......................... 30 seconds Square H6 ............................
PAGE 12
output—but with the Coach functions turned off. • Voice Coach Level G: Beeps Only Board light G indicates a level where the computer uses beeps to signify moves, keypresses, and other game activity. The voice will not speak at all on this level, and there are no coaching functions. Note that beeps do not sound when verifying pieces. • Voice Coach Level H: Silent Mode Choosing Level H gives you completely silent game operation— no voice and no beeps. Coaching features are also off.
PAGE 13
5.3 Technical Specifications Clock Frequency: 4 MHz Keys: 15 LED lamps: 2 x 8 LEDs Batteries: 4 x 1.5V “AA” (AM3/R6) cells Power Consumption: 1,200 mW maximum Dimensions: 23 x 18.3 x 3.9 cm The manufacturer reserves the right to make technical changes without notice in the interest of progress. 5. TECHNICAL DETAILS 5.1 The ACL Function Computers can sometimes “lock up” due to static discharge or other electrical disturbances.
PAGE 14
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOMS 1. The computer doesn’t react, or “freezes” during the game. 2. The computer will not play a move. 3. The computer will not accept your move. 4. The computer seems to be making illegal moves. 5. The computer makes instant or irrational moves. 6. The computer is silent. 7. No voice is heard, only beeps. POSSIBLE CAUSES ACTION TO TAKE Batteries are not inserted properly. Install batteries as described in Section 1.1. Batteries are weak or bad. Replace the batteries.